Infrastructure boost! Indian Railways set to get modern ‘Make in India’ locomotives; check out images and facts

Indian Railways is all set to get a new set of diesel locomotives that will replace an ageing fleet of engines. One such set of locomotives is being made by GE Transportation under the Modi government's 'Make in India' initiative. Most of these locomotives will be manufactured at GE factory in Bihar. GE recently unveiled the first of the 1000 Evolution Series diesel locomotives that will be supplied to the Indian Railways.

We take a look at some interesting facts about the locomotives that will help in enhancing traffic movement on the Railway network:

According to GE, the 1,000 locomotives will be delivered to Indian Railways over the next 10 years at the rate of 100 locomotives a year. Initially, 40 of the twin-cab 1,676 mm gauge locomotives will be exported from the US.

GE Transportation will supply 700 locomotives of 4,500 HP and 300 of 6,000 HP. The project is part of a $2.6 billion contract that the Ministry of Railways had awarded in November 2015. The locomotives will start arriving in India at the end of this year GE has subjected them to rigorous testing.

Meanwhile, GE is building its locomotive factory in Marhowra, Bihar. This factory will be used to manufacture the rest of the locomotives from the third quarter of 2018.

GE claims that the new set of locomotives will "significantly modernise India's rail infrastructure". GE is also building maintenance sheds at Roza in UP and Gandhidham in Gujarat.

The 4,500 HP locomotive will have dual cabs. On the other hand, the 6,000 HP locomotive will be equipped with a single cab. The locomotives will have amenities such as air-conditioning. The locomotives will be able to attain a maximum speed of 100 km/hr.

The Indian made diesel engine was used for the talgo rakes and it had knocked the speed of 180km/hr ....so why we need to import these

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Abhi 739

Jun 19, 2017 at 1:17 pm

It says made in GE factory in Bihar

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suriya.moorthy

Jun 18, 2017 at 11:49 am

What it proves is:
• Our countrymen still do not know how to make train engines
• Average speed of 100 km/hour is going to remain the norm for most of the routes (Forget superfast engines.)
• Why so many diesel engines when we have electrified most of the routes?

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Cholaraju Petchimuthu

Jun 18, 2017 at 10:50 am

This is not a boost but a step taken backwards. Instead of focusing on improving speed, this looks like we are still stuck in slow mode while African countries are going to zoom past India in terms of railway infrastructure and speed.

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Yashwanth Balakrishnan

Jun 18, 2017 at 9:07 am

100kmph ??? Seriously?? Current WDP4 i.e., the 4000Hp Locomotive already holds a trial run record of 180kmph (with the talgo train)

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Sundaresan Srinivasan.

Jun 18, 2017 at 8:59 am

Why our railways are going for these locomotives which can attain a maximum speed of 100 km/hr. only. Appears Indian railways has forgotten that they plan to ply high speed trains for which these locomotives are most unsuitable.
90 years ago GIP Railways imported electric locomotives from Metropolitan Vikers co, which could ply at 137 kms per hour speed and Deccan Queen could do the Mumbai - Pune travel in 2 hours and 45 minutes.